Shops take on fruit and vegetables in “food deserts”

GAS – Fruit and vegetable sales are enjoying great popularity after a recent remodel at Dollar General, 222 W. First St., in Gas.

The store’s renovation was completed in a matter of weeks in July. Since then, about one in three customers has a fruit or vegetable in their shopping cart when paying, said store manager Christina Patterson.

“It really took off,” she said.

Pre-made salads are the most popular, she said, and customers also buy a lot of grapes, strawberries, bananas and tomatoes. The store receives two deliveries of fruits and vegetables a week, and employees check the shelves several times a day to make sure fresh produce is always on hand.

Since March, Dollar General has been offering fresh fruits and vegetables in over 5,400 stores across the country, many of which are located in USDA-defined food deserts. The products represent the 20 most commonly sold items in traditional grocery stores, including tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes and more. The store will continue to offer frozen and refrigerated foods.

“While we are not a grocery store, we believe the addition of produce to our gas store underscores our commitment to providing a pleasant shopping experience that includes affordable prices on quality products in a convenient location,” said Matthew Simonsen, senior vice president of real estate and store development at Dollar General, in a press release.

The Gas Store’s offerings provide fresh fruits and vegetables to residents who are unable to drive to grocery stores in Iola, even though they are only a few miles away, Patterson said. Many of the store’s customers come from surrounding towns like LaHarpe, which do not have a store.

Patterson has worked for Dollar General Company since 2011 and joined Gas as a manager when the store opened over six years ago.

Dollar General also supports a number of charities, such as the Literacy Foundation. Patterson said the gas store has donated items to Hope Unlimited, an organization that supports victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She said efforts are also being made to find ways to donate unsold products.

“We try to give back to the community,” she said.